Thursday, June 26, 2008

Bring a Celebrity to Camp Day

Celebrities affect writers. Whether it's Jane Austen, J.D. Salinger or Gwyneth Paltrow, we naturally look up to people and are inspired by them... for better or worse. But to make Freelance Writing Camp more fun than it already is, who would you bring? A hottie to keep you drooling? A literati to give you advice?

Here are some of my ideas... Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of Suburban Girl as an associate editor trying to make her way to the top. Cute and apparently a stellar editor! What a bargain.Truman Capote. Alcoholic, narcissistic and usually offensive... but he'll make your blood run cold with his stories.

Anne Hathaway. Classic bone structure and a terrible British accent. Her performance in Becoming Jane will make you throw up and grab your Austen like a lifeboat. Cary Grant-- now we're talking. He's played a writer in his time, but his performance in Indiscreet should give every rom-com writer inspiration. He practically invented the pleasant playboy archetype. David McCullough. Bit on the older side... and happily married... but John Adams just inspires awe, wonder, laud, honor, praise, glory and a bunch of historical pluses. Jane. What can I say? You are the definition of hermit celebrity. May you rule forever. Mischa Barton. Um... ?

This Week in Innovation

Innovative: A Word for the WriTeen

Welcome to Innovative, a website that can't decide whether it's a blog or an e-zine but enjoys the best of both worlds without ever quoting Miley Cyrus.

Innovative is here for those who think teenagers and writing make a smooth combination, and who enjoy book reviews. We primarily publish reviews through a writer's eye-- looking at writing style, characterization, originality and whether Gabrielle liked it or not.

Innovative publishes sporadic reviews and thoughts, mainly dependant on the schedule of Gabrielle's new collegiate life.

About Me

I'm the primary blogger of Innovative: A Word for the Teen. In the past, I've done everything from guest-blogging for New Moon to writing a column for KidMagWriters.com, and being published 40+ times in between. I write sporadic reviews of new books from a writer's perspective, and occasionally offer advice to teen writers when I'm not being a college freshman. Find out more about my success in Chicken Soup: Extraordinary Teens, now available in stores.

The Best Books of 2008

For Authors and Their Publicists

I love to help authors spread the word about their books, and am very happy to work with publicists to arrange giveaways, interviews and book reviews. I just have a few guidelines.

Fiction:I review mostly young adult. I am willing to look at upper middle grade and adult if relevant to a teen audience, but this is on a case-by-case basis.

Nonfiction:Nonfiction must have to relate to some form of writing or writing by teenagers. Writing guides, market guides, how-tos, memoirs about writing, etc., are the best bet. And if a teen or group of teens have written a book, I'm interested.